On October 26, 2023, Ben E. Keith Company filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Maine after discovering that an unauthorized party was able to access files stored on the company’s computer network. In this notice, BEK explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names and Social Security numbers. Upon completing its investigation, BEK began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.

If you receive a data breach notification from Ben E. Keith Company, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, hackers specifically target companies they think will have large amounts of personal data, such as Social Security numbers. They target this data because it can be easily used to commit a variety of frauds, including identity theft. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Ben E. Keith Company data breach.

What Caused the Data Breach Affecting Ben E. Keith Company?

The Ben E. Keith Company data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, BEK’s filing with the Attorney General of Maine provides some important information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, on approximately March 14, 2023, the Ben E. Keith Company detected unusual activity within its IT network. In response, BEK notified law enforcement and launched an investigation into the incident.

The BEK investigation confirmed that the unauthorized party had gained access to the company’s computer network between Mach 3, 2023 and March 5, 2023. During that time, the unauthorized party was able to access files containing confidential consumer information.

After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Ben E. Keith Company reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name and Social Security number.

On October 26, 2023, Ben E. Keith Company sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.

More Information About Ben E. Keith Company

Founded in 1931, Ben E. Keith Company is a food and beverage distribution company based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company’s food distribution division services fifteen states, and the beverage division serves more than 62 counties in Texas. BEK is a distributor of Anheuser-Busch InBev products, craft and import beer, spirits, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Ben E. Keith Company employs more than 6,000 people and generates approximately $5 billion in annual revenue.